Select a service

Find a consultant

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Visiting has been suspended.
For current service information, read our pages on coronavirus.
Learn about the government response to coronavirus on GOV UK. Health information can be found from NHS England at NHS.UK

Widow donates money as thanks for husband’s community care

THE widow of a man who was treated by a community nursing team met some of the staff to thank them for everything they did for him.

Fred Read, from Seaton Carew, was cared for by the trust’s hospital at home team and the community matrons for his issues with a breathing condition known as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

He was seen for many months by specialist respiratory nurses like Louise Parkin (pictured right) before being referred to community matrons like Lynne Calder (pictured left) as his condition improved.

A few weeks ago Fred’s condition deteriorated once more and he sadly passed away.

His wife Maj (pictured centre) and his family were all so grateful for the care he had that they asked all collection money at his funeral to be donated to both the teams.

Maj said: “Fred was always so grateful for the care he had.

“When he heard that he could be treated in his own home he was over the moon. Then when he met the team he was even happier – he looked forward to seeing all of them.

“We asked people coming to the funeral to make a donation to show our thanks and were pleased to raise £85 for each team.”

When the trust’s communications team followed Louise Parkin for a special ‘day in the life of…’ feature in 2017, Fred appeared in the article, calling the service “fantastic”.

Louise said: “Fred was such a lovely man and was a pleasure to meet whenever I visited his home.

“I am very sorry to Maj and all of his family for their loss. This donation in his memory will go towards the care we provide to patients like Fred.”